Posts Tagged ‘Cat Writers Associations Presidents Award’

“It’s
Harriet’s fault. It’s always her fault, not that she’ll ever
admit it.” So begins A Spell of Murder: A Witch Cats of Cambridge
mystery, the first in a new cozy series that mixes feline fiction
with a touch of the paranormal, and a little romance as well.

Becca,
newly single and newly unemployed, wants to believe she has psychic
powers. With nothing but time – and a desire for empowerment –
she’s studying to become a witch. What she doesn’t know is that
her three cats – Harriet, Laurel, and Clara – are the ones with
the real power. And when Harriet – “a cream-colored longhair with
more fur than commonsense” – conjures a pillow for her own
comfort, Becca believes her spells are finally working. Could that be
why Trent, the coven’s devilishly handsome leader, has been showing
her special attention? Or why Suzanne, a longtime coven member, draws
her aside to share a secret – a confidence that may lead to murder?

A Spell of Murder by Clea Simon is unique and different from all the stories I have read. This story is told through the eyes of tone of the three sister cats that are magic, Clara. They live with a young woman, Rebecca Callwin, and she doesn’t know about their abilities. One time, Harriet, one of the cats, accidentally summons a pillow while Becca has her magic group with her and she is saying a spell. Now, “The Coven” believes Becca is a real witch.

The main character is Clara the younger sister cat. The whole story is told by a narrator who tell what each character is feeling. The three cats are able to do magic and go through things, but usually it is Clara who follows her owner to keep an eye on her and what is going on in her world. On one of these trips, they find Becca’s friend dead. When Becca become the number one suspect the cats help her find the killer.

This is a great, cozy mystery with the right amount of death and suspects. It may feel off to a person who doesn’t care for cats, because it takes time to give personality to the felines, along with telling the story. Some may find it intrusive, but I believe it adds to the story in a good way. It is great reading for anyone who likes cozy mysteries and animals.

Clea
Simon is the author of “A Spell of Murder,” the first in
her new “Witch Cats of Cambridge” series. She is also the
author of “World Enough,” a rock ‘n’ roll noir, as well as
the Blackie and Care series (most recently “Cross My Path”)
chronicling the adventures of the pink-haired Care and the black
feral cat who loves her. In addition to these darker books, she is
also the author of the Dulcie Schwartz feline mysteries, the Pru
Marlowe pet noir mysteries, and the Theda Krakow mysteries, as well
as three nonfiction books, including The Feline Mystique: On the
Mysterious Connection Between Women and Cats.

The
recipient of multiple honors, including the Cat Writers Associations
Presidents Award, she lives in Somerville, Massachusetts, with her
husband, Jon Garelick, and their cat, Musetta.